Folding crate



(No Model.)

E. B. ME'RRITT.

FOLDING CRATE.

muted May 17, 1887 c sie EDVARD B. MERRITT, OF HYDE PARK, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363.077, dated May', 188'7.

Application tiled September 1, 1886, Serial No. $212,372. (Nc model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that 1, EDWARD B. MERRITT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hyde Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Crate, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to crates or coops used for the purpose of transporting fruit, vegeta bles, poultry, and other produce. The object of my invention is to produce a strong durable crate or coop which can be folded into compact shape when being returned to the shipper. These objects are obtained by means of the crate shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis an upright view of the crate; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same, showing a View on the line yy,- Fig. 3, a longi tudinal section ofthe crate as seen when folded; Fig. 4, a cross-section showing a view on the line :r also showing by the dot-ted lines at the bottoni the crosssection when folded; Fig. 5, the screw for holding the crate together when folded; Fig. 6, a crosslsection of screw lz, plate Z, and ring h and end piece, g.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The crate consists of the bottom a, to which are attached the sides b b and the ends c c, by means of the hinges d d, as shown in Fig. 2. The top e slides into thegroovesff on the inside of the sides b b, and also grooves in the end posts, c c, which are in line with the grooves ff when the crate is set up. The top e thus holds up the sides b b, while the ends c c are held in place by the sides b b, thus holding up the sides, while the sides hold up the ends c c, as shown. The top e is provided with the end pieces, g g, one of which is provided with the hinges, as shown, so as to :fold over the end of the crate. The end pieces, g g,

are provided with the screws 7a 7L for the purpose of holding the crate together when folded,

as shown in Fig. 3. Z is a plate fastened to the end piece, g, through which the screw h passes freely. h is a ring on the inside of the frame, through which the cylindrical part of the screw li can freely slide. The thread of the screw is v made of sufficient size to prevent the ring h from passing over it, which prevents the removal of the screw from the endsggy when not holding the crate together. When the crate is folded, the pressure of the screw against or into the frame holds the crate Asecurely t0- grther. Vhen not in use, the crate may be folded by removing the top, which allows the sides and then the ends to be folded, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4. The top is then laid over the folded parts and securely folded together by means of the screws h h. When the crate is used for transporting fowls, I place a door in the top of the crate, as shown. The wire hool shaped fastener z, provided with the weightj, holds the door secure, and the door can readily be opened by adjusting the weight so as to unhook Afrom the frame. The hook z' is hooked on the frame of the door, which should be made larger than the opening in the hook, so that the fast-ener cannot he removed from the frame of the door, and thus lost or nlislaid.

The crate may be constructed with a wooden frame, as shown, or may be entirely made of wire or metal. It may be made entirely of wood, so as to exclude the air, or with wire so as to secure a free ventilation.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, lis

In a crate, the bottom a, sides b b, provided with grooves f f, ends c c, top c, with its end pieces, gg, and screws 7i 7L, all constructed substantially as shown, for the purpose specilied.

EDWARD B. MERRITT.

Vitnesses:

CALVIN DEWoLr, WALLACE L. DEWOLF. 

